<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10>I have an old Ryobi that I bought from a woodworking neighbor a couple of years ago. I remember giving him about $75 for the planer with 3 extra blade sets recently professionally sharpened. He upgraded to a DeWalt because it causes less snipe at the ends of the planed boards.
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<BR>Snipe is a problem with most planers. There are several ways to make it less of a problem, but none that I know of that will completely eliminate it. I either waste the 3 inches at each end of the board that has the snipe, or I can almost eliminate it by feeding short sacrificial boards in ahead and behind the good board.
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<BR>Several of the woodworking magazines have had extensive reviews in the last year or so. One likes Makita, another DeWalt, another Delta, another Ridgid, etc. I wouldn't think you'd go wrong with any of those.</FONT></HTML>